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The basketball icon, as he cordially introduced himself in a federal courtroom on Friday, admitted that his drive to win and status as a newcomer emboldened his effort with 23XI Racing to “challenge” Nascar over perceived violations of antitrust rules.

Financial Stakes and a Will to Win

The owner disclosed operational insights of his racing venture, revealing he put in $40m of his personal wealth into the Cup Series operation co-founded with business partner Curtis Polk and driver Hamlin.

“It fell to someone to act,” Jordan said during testimony. “As a newcomer, I had no fear. I felt I could challenge Nascar as a whole. From my perspective, the sport required examination through a new lens.”

The Core Dispute: Franchise System and Contract Pressure

At issue is the end of a 2016 deal where Nascar provided each team a “charter”. The concept is similar to other professional sports with independent franchises, such as the NBA’s Hornets or the Carolina Panthers. The agreement was due to end in 2024 when Nascar demanded charter membership renewals.

Jordan testified for an hour and exited the courthouse to a media frenzy, with fans and media clamoring for a glimpse or a photo of the global icon.

Spearheading the Fight

Jordan’s 23XI is leading the full-court press along with another racing team for Nascar to change a business model Jordan contended is breaking the law to keep two hands on the wheel.

At issue for Jordan and Heather Gibbs, who testified before Jordan, are details from September 2024. Gibbs described a frantic and emotional six hours where the racing circuit informed teams they had to sign a charter agreement extension. The document consists of over a hundred pages outlining pay for chartered teams and a guaranteed entry in Nascar-sponsored races.

A Refusal to Sign

Jordan said that his team and its ally decided their only feasible option was to refuse a signature that 112-page package and take the issue to court. All other teams agreed to the terms.

Jordan and co-owner Denny Hamlin approached Nascar about possible changes or negotiations. Nascar refused to engage, Jordan said.

The Ultimate Motivation: Victory

Ultimately, the resistance against what he saw as a financially unsustainable model was mostly about the usual bottom line for Jordan: Winning.

“Denny convinced me adding a third car boosted our odds of winning,” he said, noting that he purchased another franchise late in 2024 for $28 million despite the uncertainty. “So I dove in.”

Account from the Gibbs Family

Heather Gibbs detailed her push for indefinite franchises, which she said a formal letter to Nascar. She testified the timing of the signature deadline didn’t sit well.

She said, Joe Gibbs first tried to call and talk Nascar out of demanding signatures, but CEO Jim France declined the request.

“Please don’t force this on us,” Gibbs recounted was the message to Nascar’s leadership. She said France replied, “If I wake up and I have 20 charters, I have 20. If I have 30, I have 30.”